Texas Ranked as 7th Hardest-Working State
The ranking tracks weekly hours and employment rates, which determine labor availability for local businesses.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Employment
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WalletHub identified Texas as the 7th hardest-working state in a 2026 labor study. The ranking considers metrics including weekly work hours, employment rates, and daily leisure time.
Why it matters
Business operators in Texas rely on labor availability metrics to gauge local recruitment competitiveness and potential productivity levels. These findings highlight how regional labor engagement compares to the national landscape.
Texas earned a 7th-place ranking in the 2026 WalletHub study, which assessed factors like weekly hours and employment rates. The data also notes that South Dakota holds the 1st position, with 6.5% of its workforce holding multiple jobs.
The players
WalletHub
A personal finance website that aggregates consumer and economic data to produce rankings and comparative studies.
The details
Researchers evaluated state labor markets by weighting average weekly work hours and overall employment rates most heavily. The study also incorporated secondary metrics such as annual volunteer hours and the idle youth rate, specifically targeting the 18 to 24 age demographic. While Texas ranks highly for hours worked, it shares that intensity level with Louisiana.
Timeline
WalletHub published the state workforce study in 2026.
Market Landscape
This ranking follows the established methodology of the WalletHub state workforce study, which categorizes labor engagement across all 50 states. It provides a comparative benchmark for regional employment intensity against national leaders like South Dakota and Alaska.
Business owners should monitor these engagement trends to better predict employee availability and potential churn in a tight labor market. Reviewing your local competitiveness for staff is essential given the high weekly hours documented across the state.
The takeaway
Texas maintains a high labor intensity that remains competitive on a national scale. Operators should track their industry-specific engagement metrics to see how they align with the high weekly work hours observed in the state.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding local labor force participation, explore our Employment section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth.
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